An international trend took off in Toronto this year, which is mouth-watering news for foodies of all types. According to Toronto Life, a group of entrepreneurs helped bring the burgeoning food truck scene to "the 416," and their popularity seems boundless.Getting the trucks up and rolling was no easy task. It took a team of dedicated chefs and business owners to bring everything together. One challenge some food truck owners may face is finding room for excess supplies and cooking gear. Fortunately, Toronto Storage can help any restaurant owner keep their materials in a safe and secure environment, even those who are completely mobile.Renowned chef Suresh Doss initiated the Food Truck Eats events, which really got things going. In July, the first pop-up taco stand, La Carnita, opened up to rave reviews, and since then, the growing number of food trucks available in the city has been staggering.Those who are interested in chowing down on some of the best food…

The Toronto Star reports that the real estate market in Ontario's capital city will calm down a bit in 2012. In November, home sales were up 9.7 percent over the same time in 2010, and the average house price was higher than it had been in some time.Toronto residents who may have been waiting for the market to cool off a bit before purchasing will soon get their chance as BMO Economics predicts that price increases will slow considerably. The news source indicates that home sales in Toronto are beginning to decline, which could cause a drop in prices.Moving can be a pain, and packing and clutter are some of the major annoyances that go along with relocating. Toronto storage…

Among the many reality TV shows on the air, storage auction shows have drawn a large audience this year. The programs follow people who bid on abandoned storage units with the hopes of turning up valuable items that will make their purchases worthwhile. Most of the time, the winners will wind up with a few items that they can sell to recoup their profits, but there are the occasional hidden gems that can really make one's head spin.According to StorageAuctionCentral.com, there were a few doozies that were uncovered in self storage facilities this year, including a 1966 Ford Shelby Mustang, valued at around $200,000, that was once owned by its designer, Carroll Shelby. When a unit contains a rare or…

Business owners in Ontario who are just starting out or need more space than their home office allows can consider workspace storage units at Toronto storage facilities. Self storage centers often offer temporary venture space that are internet-ready.This alternative to renting an office space can be just the ticket, especially since commercial real estate forecasts indicate that finding space may be difficult in 2012. A recent report by Cushman and Wakefield Canada (C and W) indicates that office vacancy rates have been declining rapidly across the nation, and this trend will continue into 2012."With forecasted economic growth for Canada at just under 3 percent in 2012, demand for office space will remain steady, increasing pressure for new property developments," said Pierre…

There has recently been a lot of growth in the Ethiopian communities in Toronto, as evidenced by an increasing number of Ethiopian cathedrals being built in the city. The Globe and Mail points out that the churches are not just a sign that Ethiopian people are immigrating to Toronto, but they are also beautiful examples of traditional architecture that juxtapose the modern skyscrapers of the city.One such building is being constructed in an industrial neighborhood, coloring the landscape of factories and warehouses with its elegant architecture. When construction is complete, the church will be open to the public. Storage facilities can provide the church officials with a place to keep the furniture, decorations and any other items that will be…

Thomas Braswell, a 30-year-old construction worker from Florida, decided to try his hand at a storage auction, and the unit he won contained some pretty interesting stuff. The Tampa Tribune reports that Braswell outbid three others and won a 6-by-10-foot storage unit for $25, and inside it he found a TV that would recoup the money he spent. He also came across five boxes of photographs, legal documents and family trees that date back to the early 1800s, according to the news source."I wasn't thinking we hit the jackpot," Braswell explained to the Tribune reporter. "I want to find the family and give it back. If it was my family heirlooms, I'd want them. I know there is somebody out…

Next to losing weight, reducing debt and saving money are consistently some of the top New Year's resolutions Canadians make. And according to a recent survey, 2012 is no exception.A recent poll conducted by TD Canada Trust indicates that looking to the new year, approximately six in 10 Canadians say they will try to set aside at least 10 percent of their paychecks to put toward their savings accounts or retirement nest egg."This time of year, we focus heavily on budgeting for holiday expenses," said Raymond Chun, TD Canada Trust's senior vice president. "But in reality, it's the steps you take during the other 11 months of the year that are going to make the biggest difference to your overall…

Flu season is approaching, which is why Ontario's doctors are reminding the province's residents to make their health – as well as that of their co-workers – a priority.As the Ontario Medical Association indicates, the flu is a highly contagious virus that can rapidly spread by touching something that someone else comes into contact with. To prevent its transmission, the OMA strongly encourages workers to stay home from work or take a sick day if at all possible."Everyone feels guilty sometimes about taking a sick day, especially at busy times of the year," said Stewart Kennedy, president of the OMA. "But ignoring flu symptoms and spreading the flu to your co-workers is the only thing to feel guilty about. People…

In the excitement and anticipation of purchasing a new home, Canadians can often make decisions that they later come to regret. To help homebuyers avoid these errors in judgement, the Ontario Real Estate Association released a list of some of the most common mistakes homebuyers make.Chief among them is not knowing what they can afford to spend for a property. Barbara Sukkau, president of the OREA, said that in addition to establishing a budget and knowing how much the home is valued for, home seekers should also consider the land transfer taxes, closing costs and moving expenses.Another common error people make is not having a clear idea of the type of property they want to purchase. Tom Bebour, board member…

In the course of a year, Canadians perform millions of internet searches for random topics and items of interest. Some of the most common ones were chronicled by classified listing website Kijiji, as it released its list of the top searches performed in 2011.According to the website, the most popular search term this year was "iPhone," the cellphone and mobile device that millions of people have purchased throughout the world since it originally debuted in 2007. Since the original, four updated models have been released, the latest one being the iPhone 4S, which was unveiled this past October.Some of the other most common search terms were all related to cars, namely "Mustang," Honda," "Civic" and "Jeep." The sixth most common…

Real estate is still a hot commodity in Canada, as the rental vacancy rate diminished throughout the country in October, a new report indicates.According to the fall Rental Market Survey released by the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation, the average rental apartment vacancy rate in Canada dropped to 2.2 percent in October, down from 2.6 percent on a year-over-year basis.Mathieu Laberge, deputy chief economist at CMHC's Market Analysis Center, said the decline largely resulted from higher levels of employment among young adults, which necessarily increasing rental housing demand."Demand for rental condominium apartments remained strong, with the vacancy rate for such units falling in most of Canada’s largest urban centers, including Toronto, Montreal and Vancouver," said Laberge.As previous polls have indicated,…

As the year draws to a close, many Canadians may be thinking about getting that treadmill out of their storage unit and finally committing to exercising on a regular basis. But according to some of Canada's most respected fitness experts, they may want to keep it there for the time being, as walking or running will likely not be among Canada's top fitness trends in 2012.According to experts with backgrounds in fitness, physiotherapy, exercise physiology and fitness facilities equipment, small group training will likely be the top fitness activity in the upcoming year. The fitness gurus say these groups involve a coach or personal trainer leading a group of between three and 12 people in a variety of mini exercises…

Whether packing them in bags or putting them in storage to turn in at a later date, a nonprofit environmental organization is encouraging Canadians to save their cans, as they are worth money.According to Consigneco, nearly 400 million aluminum cans are not turned into retailers each year. This has robbed Canadians out of $21 million, as the cans are refundable at various locations.To encourage more people to recycle these cans – and improve the environment at the same time – Consigneco recently announced an awareness campaign that reminds consumers to save their cans after drinking them rather than throwing them away."Your cans are valuable," said Pascale Demers, Cosigneco spokeswoman. "Returning them first and foremost benefits the environment, but it also…

Despite the hustle and bustle that the holiday season can bring, an overwhelming majority of Canadian moms say they make sure to set aside time so that they can enjoy holiday festivities with their children.The poll, conducted by Leger Marketing, found that more than two-thirds of Canadian mothers said they intend to make the holiday season as special as possible by increasing the amount of time they spend with their kids.Trish Magwood, author and parenting expert, said that despite moms' best intentions, hectic schedules can often get in the way of this becoming a reality."As a mom I know that we all cherish the holidays because it allows us to be together with our families and friends," said Magwood. "But…

After a sluggish start, the Canadian economy will likely finish the year strong, according to a new report.In BMO Economics' Provincial Monitor report, gross domestic product in the third quarter rose 3.5 percent on annualized basis despite hurdles that snarled growth, such as auto-sector supply chain disruptions and the Alberta wildfires"We expect 2011 to end up with 2.3 per cent growth for the year," said Michael Gregory, senior economist for BMO Capital Markets.Nevertheless, Gregory noted that it may prove difficult for Canadian businesses – both large and small – to maintain their success in 2012, as they will face stiff headwinds from consumers, many of whom have a negative sentiment about their financial situation. However, Cathy Pin, vice-president of commercial…

Due to financial uncertainty at the global level, consumer confidence in Canada isn't as high as it's been in the past. As a result, professional services firm KPMG says businessowners will have to re-strategize if they want their company to thrive in 2012.Willy Kruh, chairman of consumer markets for KPMG, says this is particularly true for retailers."We're right at the cusp of a mobile-commerce revolution, and retailers who are unprepared risk losing market share," said Kruh. "Retailers who leverage new technology based models like e-commerce and shopping via mobile devices, also known as m-commerce, will come out on top."Recent studies suggest that 20 percent of retailers' mobile traffic comes from tablets such as the iPad, yet less than half of…

As Christmas approaches and the city is decked out in red and green, Canadians can live in a more "green" fashion by making a few changes to how they celebrate the holiday season.According to a recent survey conducted by Ipsos Reid, Atlantic residents are the least likely to recycle wrapping paper after they've open their gifts among all Canadians, opting instead to throw the strips of paper away in the garbage.Bernard More, a sustainability expert, said families should try to get into the habit of making more environmentally friendly decisions when celebrating the holidays."By slightly altering your family's long-held traditions, you can reduce waste and lessen your family's environmental impact at a time of the year when waste levels are…

Businessowner sentiment among Canadians moved little in the month of November, a new survey indicates.The Canadian Federation of Independent Business says confidence levels remained essentially the same last month rising slightly to 63.7 from October's 63.6 reading.Ted Mallett, vice president and chief economist for CFIB, said that while the Business Barometer index suggests businessowners are more optimistic than pessimistic, it's still low historically."Overhanging concerns about the potential spread of economic weakness out of Europe appear to be still at play," said Mallett. "The Index has recovered 2 of the 6.6 points lost in August when the Euro currency and U.S. fiscal policy crises hit world financial markets, suggesting the Canadian economy is performing at a slower pace, but has not…

There may soon be a run on storage units in the city, as more people are purchasing properties in the Greater Toronto Area.According to the Toronto Real Estate Board, there were approximately 7,100 residential transactions in November, which indicates home sales are up more than 11 percent when compared to the same period last year."We have seen strong annual sales growth through the 2011 fall market," said Richard Silver, TREB president. "The increase in transactions has been broad-based, with strong growth across low-rise and high-rise home types throughout the [GTA]."He added that while more people are buying homes, supply levels have been able to keep up with demand, as annual listings growth superceded sales. This may set up a strong…